The 5 best hikes at Red Rock Canyon, ranked
Sandstone escarpment at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Five trails inside the scenic loop, ordered by payoff for the mileage.
The ranking
1. Calico Tanks — 2.5 miles round-trip, 400 feet up, ends at a hidden water pocket with a Strip skyline view from the top. Best short hike in the park. 2. Ice Box Canyon — 2.6 miles round-trip, shaded slot with seasonal waterfalls February-April. 3. La Madre Springs — 3.3 miles, easy grade, actual water and cottonwoods in a desert park. 4. Turtlehead Peak — 5 miles, 2,000 feet up, the summit hike; do it in cool months only. 5. Lost Creek/Children's Discovery Trail — 0.75 miles, flat, petroglyphs and a seasonal waterfall. Best walk for kids or a short stop.
Calico Tanks alone justifies the timed-entry reservation. Turtlehead is where locals go on cool weekends but it's brutal in summer.
What to know before you go
You need a timed-entry reservation October 1 through May 31, booked at recreation.gov ($2 fee) on top of the $20 vehicle fee. The scenic loop is one-way, 13 miles, and closes at dusk. Cell service is patchy — download the AllTrails maps before you leave the Strip. Summer hikes here have killed people; if it's over 95°F, do Ice Box Canyon at sunrise or don’t hike at all.
Skip Pine Creek Canyon unless you have a full morning — it's fine but doesn’t beat Ice Box for shade or Calico Tanks for views. First Creek is on the outside of the loop and worth it if you want to avoid reservations entirely.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Ely.
Calico Tanks. It's under three miles, gains just enough elevation to feel like a hike, and the finish looks back at the Las Vegas Strip from a natural sandstone bowl.
Yes, if you enter before 8am or after 5pm, or if you visit June through September. You still pay the $20 vehicle fee at the entrance station.
